CAMBRIDGE SOUTH ASIAN ARCHIVE

Description

The film collection was started in the early 1970s. It comprises principally amateur cinefilm taken by Britons in India and South Asia from the early 1920s to the mid-1950s. 33 collections totalling just over 40 hours of footage depicting all aspects of life in colonial South Asia. The collection has just been transferred onto DVD for viewing purposes and Digibeta for use by researchers and broadcasters wishing to use sections of the films. The collection contains excellent footage of railways, army, engineering and civil service work as well as extensive scenes from South Asian life for both British and Asian inhabitants of the region. A detailed shot list of the films is currently being prepared and is available on a searchable database via the Centre’s website

Website

http://www.s-asian.cam.ac.uk

Keywords

Railways; Amateur films; British Empire; Colonial affairs; Commonwealth; India; Asia; South Asia

Access

The Library is open Mon-Fri, 0930-1300 and 1400-1730. The Centre does close during certain times of the year, so checking by telephone ahead of a visit is advised. A term of access contract must be completed by commercial users.

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Video/Film

Video components: DVDs, DigiBeta tape.
Film components: 16mm positive and negative, Standard 8mm positive.
Storage: DVDs for viewing purposes stored in the Library. The Digibeta tapes are held by a partner company in London for transfer purposes. The original films are in process of being moved to the National Film and Television Archive for long-term storage.

Catalogues

Computerised database

Brief description in the general archive catalogue. A full shotlist is being prepared as a searchable database which will be put up on the website of the Centre (http://www.s-asian.ca.ac.uk)

Main Contact

Name

Dr. Kevin Greenbank

Job title

Archivist

Telephone

01223 338094

Fax

01223 316913

Email

webmaster@s-asian.cam.ac.uk

Address

Centre of South Asian Studies
University of Cambridge
Cambridge
CB2 1SD